Original Village-Aires members
Soprano: Louise Bassett; Ann Dirksen; Barbara House; Elaine Lahr; Jane Mohar; Judy Seggerman and Sally Seggerman
Alto: Shirley Bogren; Martha Faw; Joan Jochums; Gail Kling; Velva June Martinie; Barbara Meyer; Peg Mohar; Emily Morris and Fran Whitcomb. Tenor Rev. Ray Bassett; Rev. Thor Bogren; Bonnie Davis; Jack Jochums; Dr. Jack McKinley and Dick Oncken.
Bass: Dr. H.T. Barrett; Ron Dirksen; Jerald Hesselberth and Jim Meyer.
The Village-Aires will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this month, and long-time members feel lucky to have been part of its continuation.
The Village-Aires’ spring show, “Fabulous 40th” will be presented on Saturday, April 28, at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, April 29 at 3 p.m. in the Fieldcrest High School gym.
The Village-Aires debuted in the fall of 1966, when a group of people performed selections from South Pacific in an old hotel that sat on the corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets.
The singers regrouped in the spring of 1967 and organized the Minonk Village-Aires. They sung their first concert officially as the Village-Aires on May 21, at the Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School gym.
Selections of Oklahoma were performed as well as other well-known favorites.
The Village-Aires has presented a spring and fall show in the high school gym each year for the public since then. Furthermore, after each show the group sings for nursing homes in the area – specifically Heritage Manor in Minonk and Beulah Land in Flanagan. The Village-Aires also routinely sings for events in the area. Of the original members, Jack and Joan Jochums, Jim Meyer and Elaine Lahr Cunningham are still members of the group. Several former members are planning to return including Tiffany Bennington, Janet Redenius and Russ McCulley.
In additions to the returning members, the group welcomes new member Stefanie Weber.
The Village-Aires was formed to provide an outlet for its members to participate in various forms of musical expression and to provide opportunities to share its interests and talents with the community and surrounding area.
The Village-Aires is strictly a charitable organization. No one is compensated for his or her work.
The group has provided assistance to community endeavors such as scholarships to music camps for junior high and high school students. It has also made donations to the high school music department for its productions.
Furthermore, intermittently 10 percent of the group’s gate fee has been given to the following organizations: Minonk Township Food Pantry; Minonk Garden Club; Minonk Girl Scouts; Minonk Firemen’s Association; Boy Scout Troop 878; Junior Football League; Minonk Nutrition Center; Minonk Chamber of Commerce; the American Cancer Society; Woodford County Relay for Life; and Study Buddies.
Group seeks patrons
In the spring of 2006 the Village-Aires initiated a subscription drive for patrons to support the continued staging of quality shows twice a year in the Minonk area. Donations are used to purchase necessary equipment, music, costuming and scenery. The subscription may be purchased at the following two levels – Patron or Patrons’ Circle.
People who donate up to $100 are Patrons and are entitled to special recognition for the fall and spring shows with acknowledgment in the program for each show. Patrons’ Circle members are made up of people who have donated $100 or more to the Village-Aires. This subscription will entitle the donor to special recognition for the fall and spring shows with recognition in the program for each show, special seating for each show, and an invitation to a Patrons’ Circle reception following Saturday night shows.
Contact Elaine Cunningham at (309) 432 – 2249 or at cunnghm@fieldcrest.k12.il.us for more information and an application form. Donations need to be received by April 18 for inclusion in the spring’s program.
